Liquid retaining check valve



July 15, 1952 c. P. KR1EGER, JR 2,603,230

LIQUID RETAINING.CHECK VALVE A Filed Feb. 9, 19348 /6 /I/l F1' 7. 5

56 lNvENToR F 1 9. 3 Conrad P. Kriegr Jr.

BY fhg?) ATTORNEYS Patented `uly 15, 1952 trice f LIQUID RETAINING CHECKVALVE onwaar. Krieger, Jr., Cleveland, ohio, assigner to The MeriamInstrument Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a, corporation of OhioApplication-February 9, 1948, Serial No. 7,235

l Y This invention relates to liquid retaining check valves adapted tobe applied to a chamber containing liquid and gas above the level of theliquid, in which the liquid may be caused to rise and fall by varyingpressure, the valve permitting gas to flow in oroutoi the chamber, butpreventing the escape of liquid, and being particularly applicable tomanometer tubes.

The invention has for an objection to provide a valve of the characterdescribed that is effective to prevent escape of liquid either upon agradual rise of liquid into thevalvefor upon a rapid surge of liquidinto the valve due to a sud, den change in pressure. j

A further object of the invention is to provide a liquid retaining checkvalve that is equally effective with liquid of high or low specicgravity. An additional object is to kprovide a manometer check valvewhose operation is not impaired. by the action of any of the liquidscommonly used in such manometers. l

With the above and other objects in View, the invention may be said tocomprise the valve as illustrated in the accompanying drawings,hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the appended claims,together with such variations and modifications thereof as will beapparent to one skilled in the art to which ,the invention pertains.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which:

Figure 1 shows the manner in which a valve embodyingV the invention isapplied to a convene tional manometer tube;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the valve, taken on theline indicated at 2-2 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse section throughthe valve taken on the line indicated at 3-3 in Fig; 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View similar toA FigpZ, but showing the valveclosed by oat action due to a gradual rise of liquid into the valvechamber,andV

Fig. 5.is aview similar to Fig. 2,'showing the action of the valve undera surge of pressure.

In the accompanying drawings the valve of the present invention is shownapplied to the indicating tube I of a manometer of a well known typewhich receives liquid from a well 2 where the liquid may be subjected togas under pressure delivered thereto through av pipe 3. The valve of thepresent invention has a cylindrical housing 4 provided with anexternally threaded restricted lower end portion 5 which is connected tothe manometer tube Iby means of a suitable couv,

13 claims. (o1. 137-202) pling member 6 that receives the upper end ofthe tube I and has threaded connection with the threaded end 5 of ltheValve housing. The upper end of the housing 4 is closed by a valve head'I that is secured by suitable means to the upper end of the housing 4.The valve head I has a central restricted outlet opening 8 which opensto a counterbore 9 extending to the lower end of the head. The underside of the head is provided with a raised valve seat IU surrounding thecounterbore 9. The opening 8 communicates with a counterbore II openingto the top of the valve head which is adapted to receive a pipe I2.

Liquid in the well 2 may be subjected to pressure above atmosphericwhile .the .liquid inthe tube I is subjected toatmospheric pressure,:.or the liquid in the .tube I maybe subjected toa sub-atmosphericpressure whilethe liquid in the well 2 is'subjected to atmosphericpressure.' Also, the lquid'of. the manometer may besubjected todifferential'pressures applied through agaszin the pipes and I2 to theliquid in the welll and tubel. u.

The valve of the present invention is designed to allow free ingress oregress of gas and prevent the escape of liquid through the valve housing4 under any of the conditions otoperation above mentioned.

Within the housing 4 there is a stand pipe I3 that has apress t at itslower end in therestricted lower portion 5 of thehousing. The stand pipeI3 vextends into the upper portion of the valve chamber and providessupport for a bell type float I4 that` has a flat top closure por- Ytion I5 thatis adapted to rest upon the upper. end of the pipe I3. Thefloat I4 has a cylindrical skirt I6 'extending downwardly to near theHlower end Y' of the valve chamberV when the loatis restingupon Atheupper end of thepipe I3. Adjacent theY lower end of the valve chamberthe stand pipe. I3 carries abaile plate `I'l in the form ofla circulardisk oi'substantially the. same diameter as the skirt I6, 'the' disk Ilbeing spaced a short distance below the lower end of, the skirt I6 whenthe. ioatis ,supported on the;

pipegl3.

Guide' kdisks I8 and I9 which also serve' baiiles are secured to the,stand pipe I3 at spaced points above the baule Il. The baiilesk I8andIB are of polygonal form and of a size such that'the. corners thereof.provide guidesl engageable with the interior of the skirt IS toconstrain the float: to movement coaxially with the housing 4 `and pipeI3. bales .provide spaces `for the .flow of air and The straightv edgesof the polygonal' liquid within the skirt I6. Between the upper baie I8and the top closure I5 of the float there is interposed a coil spring 29which is preferably of a strength such that it will support almost allof the weight of the iioat when the float rests upon the top of thestand pipe I3, thereby increasing the buoyant power of the float.

The upper face of the top closure member I is provided with a centralboss 2| and with a centrally disposed guide pin 22 extending upwardlytherefrom, the guide pin having a press fit in an opening formedcentrally in the boss. A washer 23 is mounted on the pin 22 above theboss and the washer 23 supports a Valve disk 24 of an elasticrubber-like composition which fits snugly on the pin 22. The boss 2| hasa rounded upper face and the washer 23 is formed to iit loosely enoughon the pin 22 so that it can rock slightly in any direction on the boss2 I- to permit the valve disk 24 to accommodate itself to the seat I0.The pin 22 has a head 25 at its upper end which is spaced a shortdistance above the upper face of the disk 24 and which enters thecounterbore 9 when the valve is in closed position. The valve disk 24 isunconned and free to expand either radially or axially so that it willnot be permanently distorted by pressure against the seat and will notbecome misshapen if caused to swell by the action of the liquidernployed in the manometer. Also the mounting of the elastic valve diskon the pin 22 and 4boss 2| permits the valve disk and washer .to rock inany direction that may be necessary to cause the disk to contactuniformly with the seat I0.

Adjacent the lower end of the valve chamber a surge plunger 26 isslidably mounted within the stand pipe I3. The plunger 26 normally seatsupon a stop pin 21 extending transversely through the .pipe I3 and has astem 28 that extends upwardly to the top of the stand pipe when theplunger V26 is seated on the pin 21, the upper end of the stem 28 beingnormally at the level of the upper end of the pipe I3, or slightly belowsaid upper end so as not to interfere with the seating of the bell I4 onthe stand pipe. The upper end of the stem 28 is guided by a plug 29secured in the upper end of the stand pipe I3, and a coil springsurrounding the stem 28 is interposed between the plunger .26 Vand theguide plug 29, a spring 30 serving to hold the plunger 26 against thepin 21 witha predetermined pressure. The bottom portion of the valvechamber is in the form of a downwardly tapering conical `recess 3|Aopening to the restricted lower end '5;

the conical recess 3| being of less diameter at its upper end than thebaffle disk I1 so that a flat annular shoulder 32 is provided at thebottom of the valve chamber around the conical portion r3| and beneaththe peripheral portion of the baiile I1 and closely adjacent the same.

The'stand pipe I3 communicates atits .lower end with the manometer tubeI and has lateral openings 33 into the conical recess 3| of the valvechamber below the plunger 26. Air and 'liquid may iiow into the valvechamber through a restricted orifice 34 in a plug 35 secured in the pipeI3 immediately below the lateral openings 33. In the normal operation ofthe manometer air flows freely in either direction 'through the orifice34, openings 33, the narrow space between the shoulders 32 and thebaffle disk I1, upwardly past the disk I1 and skirt I6 to the spaceabove the iioat I4 and through the opening 8 in the valve head.

If the pressure to which the liquid Vin the manometer tube I issubjected causes the liquid to rise gradually in the valve chamber, theliquid will flow through the orifice 34, openings 33 and around thebaffle disk I1 to gradually fill the lower portion of the valve chamberwith liquid, closing the lower end of the bell and compressing the airWithin the bell so as to cause the bell to rise to the position shown inFig. 4, where the valve disk 24 seals the valve outlet by engagementwith the seat I0. The changes in direction of ilow of liquid through theopenings 33 and past the baille I1 serve to greatly reduce surging sothat the float is eiective to prevent escape of liquid except whenchanges in pressure on the liquid are excessive and sudden.

If, however, there is a sudden spurt of liquid into the valve chamberdue to an excessive surge of pressure on the liquid, the liquid passingthrough the restricted orice 34 will flow in the form of a jet,impinging at high velocity against the bottom of the surge plunger' 26,causing the plunger 26 to move upwardly in the stand pipe I3 and liftthe bell and valve disk against the seat I0, as shown in Fig. 5 of thedrawings, thus eiecting an instantaneous closure of the valve outlet, so

as to permit suicient liquid to accumulate in the lower portion of thevalve chamber to retain the iloat in valve closing position.

Above the baille disk I1 the stand pipe I3 is provided with openings 31between the baffles I1 and I9. These openings assist in rapiddistribution of pressure inside the float, and the lower openings 31assist in the drainage of liquid from the stand pipe when the Valve isreopened.

By supporting substantially all of the weight of the bell upon thespring 20 in the lowermost position of the bell, the buoyancy of thebell is greatly increased and the iioat responds readily to rise ofliquid within the valve chamber regardless of the specic gravity of theliquid.

The spring 30 is designed to hold the plunger 25 against movement untilsubjected to a predetermined surge pressure which except for the actionof the plunger 26 would cause escape of liquid past the float valve.Surges exerting such pressures may be due either to pressure applied tothe liquid in the well 2, or to vacuum applied to the liquid through thetube I2.

The valve parts are all made of corrosion resistant material, preferablystainless steel. If desired, the stand pipe may be made of a fibrouscomposition but it is preferred that the baille plates I8 and I9 beformed of metal to reduce the friction between the baffles and the skirtof the oat.

It is to be understood that variations and modications of the specificdevices herein shown and described for purposes of illustration, may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A liquid retaining check valve having a chamber closed except for anoutlet and a restricted inlet orifice open at all times to the 'interiorof the chamber below said outlet through which liquid may flow into thechamber or drain from the chamber, a valve for closing said outlet, afloat in said chamber operatively connected to said Valve and movable toclose the` same by liquid accumulating in said chamber, and a valveactuating member in said chamber and operatively connected to saidvalve, said member being positioned in the path of liquid surging in theform of a jet through said orice into said cham- .berand being movableby jet pressure in a direction'rto v,close said valve.

`2..-Al liquid retaining check valve having a chamber closed except foran air outlet and a restricted. liquid inlet and drain orice below saidoutlet, avalve for closing rsaid outlet, a float in said chamberoperatively connected to said valve .andmovable to close the same byliquid accumulating insaid chamber, a movable member operativelyconnected to said valve and positioned to be operated by liquid surgingin the form of a jet through said orifice into said chamber in adirection to close said valve, and a spring acting upon said movablemember to hold the same against movement by surge pressures below apredetermined pressure.

3.'A liquid retaining check valve having a chamber closed except for anair outlet at the top thereof and a restricted liquid inlet and drainorifice in its bottom open at all times to the interior of the chamber,a valve for closing said outlet, a float in said chamber operablyconnected to'said valve and movable upwardly to valve closing positionupon an accumulation of liquid in said valve chamber, and a verticallymovable member held by gravity in a position spaced from and directlyover said inlet orice to receive the impact of liquid surging in theformbffa jet through said opening and operably connected to said valveto close the same when moved upwardly by a surge of liquid through saidorifice.

4. A liquid retaining check valve having a chamber closed except for anair outlet adjacent its top and a restricted liquid inlet and drainorifice adjacent its bottom open at all times to the interior of thechamber, a valve for closing said outlet, a float in said chamberoperatively connected to Said valve and movable to valve closingposition by liquid accumulating in the valve chamber, and a movablesurge operated member positioned adjacent to but spaced from said oricein the path of liquid surging in the form of a jet through said orificeinto said chamber and movable away from said orifice by jet impact, saidmember being operatively connected to said iloat for moving the same tovalve closing position.

5. A liquid retaining check valve having a chamber closed except for anair outlet adjacent its top and a restricted liquid inlet and'drainorifice adjacent its bottom, a valve for closing said outlet, a float insaid chamber operatively connected to said valve and movable to valveclosing position by liquid accumulating in the valve chamber, a surgeoperated member positioned adjacent but spaced from said orice in thepath of liquid surging in the form of a jet through said orice into saidchamber and movable away from said orifice by jet impact, said memberbeing operatively connected to said float for moving the same to valveclosing position, and a spring acting upon said surge operated member tohold the same against movement by surge pressures below a predeterminedpressure.

6. A liquid retaining check valve having a chamber provided with anoutlet at the top thereof and an upwardly directed restricted inletoriiice at its bottom open at all times to the interior of the chamber,a float guided for vertical movement in said chamber, a valve carried bysaid iloat for closing said outlet, a plunger mounted for verticalmovement above said orice and having a part engageable with said oat tomove the same upwardly to valve closing position,

and'means for supporting said plunger from and directly vover said oriceto receive the` impact of liquid surging through said orice;M .Y

7. A liquid retaining check valve having a chamber provided withanoutlet lat the` top thereof and an upwardly directed restricted inletorifice at its bottom, a float guided for `vertical movement in saidchamber, a valve carried by said iioat for closing said outlet, `aplunger mounted for vertical movement above said oriiice and having apart engageable withsaidoat to move the same, means. for supporting saidplunger directly over said orifice to receivethe impact of liquidsurging through said oriiice,.-and a spring exerting' a downwardpressure on said plunger. iA y 8. VA liquid retaining jcheckj valve fhaving a chamberclosed except for an outlet adjacent its top andrarestricted inlet orice Abelow said outlet that is open at all times tothe interior. of the chambenl'a valve for closing said'outlet, aver-,-tically movable float in Vsaid chamber operably connected to said valve,a spring exerting a'nfupward pressure on `said float to increase itsbuoyancy, a member positioned adjacent to and spaced iromsaid oriiiceand movable away from said orifice under Vthe impact of liquid surgingin the form of a jet through said. orifice, "and means operablyconnecting said member to said oat to move the same to valve closingposition upon actuation of said member.

9. A liquid retaining check valve comprising a chamber having an outletat the top thereof and an opening in the bottom thereof, a stand pipetting in said opening and having a lateral opening to the chamberadjacent the bottom, a restricted inlet passage in said stand pipeimmediately below said openings, a oat in the form of an inverted bellsupported on said stand pipe, a valve member carried by said bell forclosing said outlet, means carried by said stand pipe for guiding saidfloat, a vertically movable plunger in said stand pipe, means forsupporting said plunger directly over said orifice and above saidlateral openings, and a stem carried by the plunger and engageable withsaid bell upon upward movement of the plunger.

10. A liquid retaining check valve comprising a chamber having an outletat the top thereof and an opening in the bottom thereof, a stand pipeiitting in said opening and having a lateral opening to the chamberadjacent the bottom, a restricted inlet passage in said stand pipeimmediately below said openings, a float in the form of an inverted bellsupported on said stand pipe, a valve member carried by said bell forclosing said outlet, means carried by said stand pipe for guiding saidoat, a vertically movable plunger in said stand pipe, means forsupporting said plunger directly over said orifice and above saidlateral openings, a stem carried by the plunger and engageable with saidbell upon upward movement of the plunger, and a spring exerting adownward pressure on said plunger.

11. A liquid retaining check valve comprising a chamber having an outletat the top thereof and an opening in the bottom thereof, a stand pipefitting in said opening and having a lateral opening to the chamberadjacent the bottom, a restricted inlet passage in said stand pipeimmediately below said openings, a float in the form of an inverted bellsupported on said stand pipe, a valve member carried by said bell forclosing said outlet, polygonal disks secured to said stand pipe andinteriorly engaging the float .to .guide the same and to provide battleswithin the bell, a baffle disk secured to said pipe above said lateralopenings and underlying said float, a vertically movable plunger in saidstand pipe, means for limiting the downward movementl of said plungerand normally supporting the same vadjacent said orifice, anda stemattached to said plunger and engageable with said float to impartvupward movement to said float.

l2. A liquid retaining check valve comprising a chamber having an outletat the top thereof and an opening in the bottom thereof, a stand pipetting in said opening and having a lateral opening to the chamberadjacent the bottom, a restricted inlet passage in said stand pipeimmediately below said openings, a float .in the form of an invertedbell supported .on said stand pipe, a valve member `carried by said bellfor closing said outlet, polygonal disks secured to said stand pipe andinteriorly engaging the float to guide the same and to provide bailieswithin the bell, a baille disk secured to said pipe above said lateralopenings and underlying said iioat, a spring interposed between theupper of said disks and said float for partially supporting said float,a vertically movable plunger in said stand pipe, means for limiting thedownward movement of said plunger and normally supporting the sameadjacent said orifice, and a stem attached to said plunger andengageable with said float to impart upward movement to said neat.

13. In a liquid retaining Vcheck valve a valve chamber having an outletin the top wall thereof, an ,annular seal surrounding the outlet on theinterior of said top wall, a float in the form of an inverted bell,means for guiding said iloata boss yon the top of said float providedwith arounded top, a pin projecting vertically from said boss centrallythereof, a washer loosely mounted on said pin, and a valve disk ofelastic material snugly tting on said pin and resting on said washer',said disk being unconfined to expand radially or axially and said washerand valve disk being rockable on said seat to enable 'said disk toaccommodate itself to said valve seat.

CONRAD P. KRIEGER, AJR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of `record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 338,196 Smith Mar. 16, 18862,086,637 Price July 13, 1937 2,209,473. Price vJuly 30, 1940 2,252,164Cantor Aug. 12, 1941 2,325,956 Holtman Aug. V31943

